The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-18
JUDGE LYNCH,
The Militia Called Out to Chcol q
Louisville Mob.

Louisville Mob.
Soon after o'clock Friday morning mob
of 500 men and boys, armed with section Of
a telegraph pole, marched down Jefferson
street in Louisville, KY, in body to lynch
the two negroes, Patterson and Turner, for
assailing a servant girl named Jennie Bow
man, inficting injuries Of so serious char
acter that death was momentarily expected.
The police, thirty strong, in double COL
umn, met the mob at Fifth and jefferson
streets, and ordered them to disperse
Both sides stood and looked at each other for
minute, when the police charged into the
crowd. The mob was without leaders, and
scattered. Some threw stones, and several
mobbers were arrested, several being armed.
At 2:45 A. NJ, the mob organized at Fourth
and Main Streets and after several speeches
marched toward the Jail armed with sledge
hammers They reached the guard line,
where a scrimmage took place, and several
shots were fired, but no one was hurt. The
mob then started toward the armory, three
squares distant. ....
Among those who were arrested were John
Letterle and Allen Mcdonald. The former
was member Of the last Kentucky Legisla-
ture, and the latter leader in an association
organized to promote purity in the city gov
ernment Mcdonald was also leading light
in the Law and Order Club, now defunct.
Judge jackson telegraphed to the Governor
for troops, and several companies were Or
dered to the jail. Early in the afternoon
5000 men were in the Jail square, and an
alarm was sounded to call members Of the
Legion to the armory.
Late in the afternoon the Mayor issued a
proclamation, enjoining upon the people tho
necessity for preserving order and maintain
ing the majesty Of the law.
While the Mayor was indicting the procla-
nation the first movement looking to an Or
ganization Of the exasperated people, who
openly and on all sides advocated lynching,
was being made. In response to a notice
which had been distributed among the people
ket street. The janitor refused them admis-
sion to the hall, and the police
were endeavoring to disperse them,
when DR.. Berry, a well-known physician Of
the city, mounted barrel on the sidewalk
and addressed them. He said that since the
brutal crime of Patterson and Turner, none
of the women and children felt any security,
and that while he generally was opposed
to mob law, there was nothing to be
done in this case but to lynch the
fends. The law had again and again
ldllcQ W pll1llbu uluTue Lucy utu pttll
sent to the penitentiary when they should
have been hanged. The lawyers defended
blood-stained criminals whom they knew to
be guilty. If this crime was not atoned for,
chance would be missed to set terrible ex-
ample to the hundreds Of idle, worthless, and
thieving negroes who infested the slleys and
sluns Of the city.
The doctor was cheered at frequent inter
walls. While he was speaking, Major Kin.
ney, leading criminal lawyer, passed
through the crowd. A number Of men
stopped him, and then surrounding him de-
manded in an excited manner why he
defended men whom he knew to be
criminals The Major commenced to explain
and expostulate, declaring that he had never
acted as attorney for the man whom he be
ieved to be guilty. He was never more ear
nest or eloquent in his life, and breathed 9
heavy sigh of relief when he slipped out OF
the throng.
The Doctor resumed his remarks. and the
meeting adjourned to hall near by, where the
names OF about 100 citizens, whose senti
ments were known, and who. it was believed
would join any organized effect to lynch the
two prisoners were selected.
Despite the Mayors proclamation however
at night the squares about the Jail were
densely packed with men. On Market street
about 100 men marched up and down, eacf
with about foot of white cotton rope tied tx
the arm. In prominent place on the Court
House was the illuminated design:
"Wanted 500 men to join the mob.n
The presence of the military, however, hat
the desired effect, and on the following day
comparative order was restored.